New puppy, fireworks and a show for the neighbours!

Feefee_4

Hi zebidee

That sounds like a great idea at least he knows the load bangs are not something to be scared off. Hope things are going well for you.

Fee

Sola

Aw bless - we've had 2 cats hiding behind the washingmachine, one in the cupboard under the stairs, and one behind the sofa. It wasn't so bad when fireworks were just one night a year, but these days it seems to go on for weeks! My Mum's dog used to get in the bath and hide behind the shower curtain until we learned to shut her in the cupboard under the stairs (which she preferred).

Charlie1986

My dog loves bonfire night, he sits by the door watching the fireworks. My cat also used to do this but my neighbours dog hides under her bed.

bluegiraffe_2

Ive been really fortunate, both my cats sit up at the window and watch the fireworks!

tiamai_d

Well done!

By not making a fuss and encouraging him when he was scared, you should now have a dog who is not bothered by fireworks.

Never try to 'soothe' a dog when frightened, it only encourages this behavior and tell sit that it is correct to be afraid. Instead ignore it, or as you did, change it.

Well done.

Bet you had more fun running round the garden than watching the fireworks eh?

zebidee1

Harley hurt his back leg last night. I was picking up a pull toy from the kitchen floor when he made a lunge for it in mid air. His legs skittered out from under him on the kitchen lino and he didn't quite get a good enough grab at it to hold on tight enough and he fell awkwardly. It all happened in a split second, he wasn't even really off the ground and I'm really shocked the situation has led to such a bad injury.

He yelped the instance it happened and for about a minute afterwards then just lay down quietly. When he got up, he couldn't put any weight on his leg and held it up all the time. He didn't seem in any pain at this point and as this happened just before bedtime, we put him in his crate to rest and hoped it would improve by morning.

Although his leg is definately not as bad as it was last night, he is still limping quite badly and I took him to the vet as soon as it opened.

The vet says it's quite bad and at the moment he doesn't know if it is a really bad sprain or something more serious so we have to rest him and monitor things over the weekend and if there's no improvement he needs to be x-rayed and there's a possibility he may need surgery which he would have to be referred for as it's more specialised than they are equipped for. His feeling at the moment is hedging towards the bad sprain but it could be either.

He gave Harley a painkilling jab in the meantime and more painkillers for another week along with orders to rest.

Obviously I am doing exactly as the vet said, but I wondered if there was anything else I could try too, or anything I could get to make him more comfy. I have heard mention of 'ortho beds' and magnetic treatment to help swelling and sprains but I don't know anything about these.

As ever.....any advice please? Is there anything more I can do or try?

I feel so bad that it happened whilst I was in the kitchen with him and the whole family are looking at me as if I am a puppy murderer.

Tulip

I am sorry to hear about your puppy Harleys accident,must have scared you that you couldnt do anything to help him,I havent any advice but just to say I hope he gets well soon and recovers


Katie

~Chameleon~

Did the vet mention anything about a cruciate ligament?

I'm also concerned that the vet didn't do an x-ray this morning before sending you off with painkillers in case he's missed a fracture or something more serious. Pain is nature's way of protecting further injury to an already damaged/injured limb by preventing use of it, which he is going to do if he's dosed up on pain killers! You can't tell a dog not to walk on it's leg like you can a human!

I would be tempted to keep him on cage rest 24/7 and only carry him to the garden for toileting. Try not to let him use the leg if you can. Easier said than done I know.

Let us know how you get on

sandy2_2

Sometimes the vet has to wait for some of the swelling to go down before doing Xray. Hope it turns out to be a sprain and nothing seriously wrong

WeirdoMagnet

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I'm also concerned that the vet didn't do an x-ray this morning before sending you off with painkillers in case he's missed a fracture or something more serious.

I'd agree TBH. Keep exercise to a minimum - being on painkillers will (obviously) mask any pain ( and therefore lameness), but it doesn't guarantee that all is OK.